Slim down sweetly!

Instead of indulging once a week on a regular dessert, a new Greek study suggests that a more effective weight loss strategy for dieters is to consume low-fat, sugar-free desserts several times a week. The findings were presented at The Endocrine Society’s 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston this week.

“Dieters commonly splurge on dessert once a week, usually choosing fattening items,” said lead investigator and pediatrician Antonia Dastamani. “However, we found a positive effect of more frequent consumption of desserts that have a low glycemic index and low glycemic load. Foods with a low glycemic load and index raise blood sugar levels more slowly than other carbohydrates,” Dastamani added.

Obesity is a precursor to diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin and is unable to properly use the hormone. Meanwhile, for those who are weak for sumptuous desserts, another study published last year suggests that the clenching of muscles increases a person’s willpower and self-control. The study, published in The Journal of Consumer Research, found that the participants were able to shore up more willpower and bypass mouth-watering desserts when they clenched their hand, fingers, or biceps.